The Incident from the Hadith
Sayyiduna Rabi‘ah ibn Ka‘b رضي الله عنه narrated:
He used to spend the night serving the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, bringing him water for ablution and other necessities like miswak.
One night, the Prophet ﷺ, pleased with him, said:
"Ask (for anything of goodness in this world or the Hereafter)."
Rabi‘ah رضي الله عنه replied:
"I ask for your companionship in Paradise."
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Anything else besides that?"
He replied:
"That is all."
The Prophet ﷺ then said:
"Then help me to achieve this for you by making abundant prostrations."
(Muslim, As-Salah, Chapter: Virtue of Sujood and Encouragement Upon It, 489)
Meaning and Explanation
Just as a skilled physician says to his patient:
"I will strive for your recovery, and you help me by taking the prescribed medicine and following the diet,"
In the same way, the Prophet ﷺ said to Sayyiduna Rabi‘ah رضي الله عنه:
"I will pray for your goal (companionship in Paradise), and you help me by making abundant sujood."
This shows that the way to attain the companionship of the Prophet ﷺ in Jannah is through increasing acts of prayer and prostration.
Lessons from This Hadith
❀ This hadith proves that asking righteous living saints or pious people for du‘a is permissible.
❀ It rejects the belief that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"I am the fulfiller of all needs and remover of all difficulties, so ask me for all unseen help."
❀ On the contrary, the Prophet ﷺ told Sayyiduna Rabi‘ah رضي الله عنه:
"Help me by making abundant sujood."
❀ This is evidence that the Prophet ﷺ did not declare anyone his partner in fulfilling needs, but rather encouraged righteous action.
